Chapter 63: The Mysterious Figure in the Crystal Coffin

"Be careful, there may be danger here," the elder of the Xiao family warned.

Walking slowly into the valley, a deep roar suddenly echoed from ahead.

A massive guardian beast rushed out from the mist. It was colossal in size, its entire body covered in pitch-black scales, and its eyes flickered with a fierce red light, making it look extremely ferocious.

"This is one of the guardian beasts protecting the treasure," said the elder of the Xiao family.

The guardian beast lunged at the group, causing everyone to scatter in all directions. The members of the Xiao family drew their weapons and engaged the beast in a fierce battle.

Lin Tian stayed on the sidelines, searching for the beast's weakness. He soon discovered that the scales on its abdomen were relatively thin.

"Attack its belly!" Lin Tian shouted loudly.

Hearing this, the group redirected their attacks toward the guardian beast's abdomen. Sensing the danger, the beast continually twisted its body, attempting to evade the assaults.

Yet, through their concerted efforts, they successfully struck its belly.

The guardian beast let out a painful roar, its body began to sway, and finally, it collapsed heavily to the ground.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, but they knew this was only the beginning; more dangers lay ahead.

Continuing forward, they finally caught sight of the mysterious palace.

The palace doors were tightly shut, carved all over with symbols strikingly similar to those in the ancient text.

The elder of the Xiao family stepped forward and carefully studied the symbols on the door.

Suddenly, as if a realization had dawned upon him, he began touching the symbols in a specific sequence.

With the elder's movements, the heavy doors slowly swung open, and an ancient and mystical aura rushed out to greet them.

The group cautiously stepped into the palace. The interior was dim, illuminated only by the faint glow of a few ancient oil lamps.

In the center of the hall stood a massive stone platform, upon which rested a glowing box.

"The treasure should be inside," the elder of the Xiao family said with excitement.

As they walked toward the stone platform, just as they were about to approach it, a group of figures in black robes suddenly emerged from the shadows around the palace.

"You've finally arrived. We've been waiting for this exact moment," the leader of the black-robed men said with a cold sneer.

It turned out that the mysterious organization had been tracking them all along.

A new battle was about to erupt. Lin Tian gripped the ancient text tightly, his heart filled with vigilance.

He knew this would be a decisive battle of life and death; they had to give it their all to protect the treasure and safeguard the peace of this world.

The elder of the Xiao family furrowed his brows, glaring angrily at the lead black-robed figure. "You despicable scoundrels, tailing us all this way—what is your true purpose?"

The lead black-robed man sneered. "Purpose? Naturally, it is the treasure. With it, our organization can control the lifeline of this world. Hahaha!"

With a wave of his hand, the subordinates behind him lunged toward the Xiao family like phantoms.

Lin Tian quickly tucked away the ancient text and drew the longsword from his waist, the blade flashing with a cold glint.

With a flash of movement, he intercepted the black-robed adversary charging at the very front.

His sword collided with the enemy's weapon, sending a shower of sparks flying.

Lin Tian felt a formidable force surge from the opponent's weapon, causing his arm to go slightly numb.

He knew deep down that these black-robed figures were no ordinary foes; each emanated a gloomy aura, as if they hailed from the dark abyss.

The rest of the Xiao family also engaged the black-robed intruders in a life-or-death struggle.

The elder of the Xiao family wielded an archaic staff, its tip embedded with a gemstone that emitted a soft glow.

He swung the staff, every downward stroke carrying immense power that repelled the approaching enemies.

However, the black-robed men were numerous, and their attacks were bizarre and unpredictable, making them hard to guard against.

A young disciple of the Xiao family was carelessly struck by an enemy, blood splashing as he fell to the ground.

Seeing this, a flash of fiery rage ignited in the elder's eyes. "You villains, how dare you injure my Xiao clan member! I will not spare you!"

The light emanating from his staff flared brilliantly, and he pressed the attack against the black-robed men with even greater fury.

During the melee, Lin Tian noticed that despite the fierce and aggressive nature of the enemy's attacks, there seemed to be a certain pattern to them.

They constantly revolved around a central point, forming a bizarre formation.

A thought stirred in Lin Tian's mind. While trading blows with the enemy, he searched intently for a flaw in the formation.

Suddenly, Lin Tian spotted an opening. Locking onto a weak spot within the formation, his figure dashed forward like lightning, his longsword thrusting fiercely.

With a muffled thud, a black-robed man was struck by Lin Tian, causing the formation to loosen slightly.

"Attack the weakness in their formation!" Lin Tian shouted.

Hearing the call, the elder struck in the direction Lin Tian pointed. Realizing the situation was turning dire, the leader of the black-robed men roared, "Hurry, stabilize the formation!"

Yet the elder's onslaught grew increasingly fierce, and the enemy's formation began to crumble under the pressure.

Just when the Xiao family thought victory was within their grasp, an eerie chime rang out inside the palace. Following the sound, a black mist surged over the bodies of the black-robed men, instantly amplifying their strength.

"Not good! They still have a trump card!" The face of the Xiao family elder drained of color.

Enshrouded in the black mist, the adversaries launched another wave of attacks against the two.

This time, their assaults were far more ferocious, plunging the Xiao family into a desperate struggle.

Lin Tian felt as though he had plunged into a dark vortex, with the enemy's attacks crashing over him like a tidal wave.

His stamina was gradually depleting, but his inner conviction grew ever firmer.

He gripped his sword tightly, replaying the runes of the ancient text in his mind.

Suddenly, a flash of enlightenment crossed Lin Tian's eyes. He recalled a specific rune from the ancient text that seemed capable of augmenting one's own power.

Without a second thought, he chanted incantations under his breath, tracing the trajectories of the runes in the air with his blade.

As the runes materialized, a formidable surge of energy erupted within Lin Tian.

This power burned like a flame, dispersing the surrounding black mist.

Witnessing Lin Tian's transformation, a flicker of astonishment crossed the eyes of the black-robed men.

Seizing the opportunity, Lin Tian launched his counterattack, rushing toward the enemy with his sword wreathed in roaring flames.

His speed was blinding, like a streak of lightning, instantly piercing through the enemy's defensive line.

The black-robed men scrambled to evade, but several were still struck by Lin Tian's flames, letting out cries of agony.

Beholding Lin Tian's change, the elder of the Xiao family felt a surge of elation. "Everyone, do not give up! We can definitely defeat them!"

Encouraged by Lin Tian, the others nearby rallied their spirits and engaged the enemy in an even more intense clash.

At the crucial turning point of the battle, Lin Tian discovered a vulnerability in the lead black-robed man.

Without hesitation, he lunged forward, his sword aiming straight for the enemy's throat.

The leader's expression shifted, but it was too late to dodge.

Just as the blade was about to pierce him, a flash of black light swept across his body, deflecting Lin Tian's attack.

"Hmph! Did you really think you could defeat me like this? How naive!" the lead black-robed man sneered.

A black token suddenly materialized in his hand, covered all over in bizarre runes. He hoisted the token high into the air and began chanting an incantation.

As the chant resonated, countless beams of black light erupted across the palace walls. These rays converged, forming a massive black vortex.

A powerful suction force emanated from the vortex, pulling both the group and the black-robed men toward its center.

Lin Tian felt his body lose control as he was dragged toward the dark abyss. He tried to struggle, but the gravitational pull was simply too overwhelming to resist.

The instant he was sucked into the vortex, he caught sight of the Xiao family elder and his other companions being pulled in as well.

When Lin Tian regained consciousness, he found himself in an unfamiliar space.

The domain was pitch-black, save for a faint sliver of light in the distant horizon.

An eerie atmosphere permeated the surroundings, sending shivers down one's spine.

"What is this place?" The voice of the Xiao family elder echoed through the darkness.

Lin Tian scanned his surroundings and replied, "I do not know, but we must first find a way out."

At that moment, they noticed the black-robed men were also trapped in this space, maintaining a certain distance from them, seemingly searching for an exit as well.

Lin Tian cautiously walked toward the faint sliver of light, followed closely by the Xiao family members and the black-robed antagonists.

As they drew closer, the light grew progressively brighter until, finally, they beheld an ancient stone tablet.

The stele was covered in runes and patterns; strangely enough, these markings did not entirely match those in the ancient text.

The elder of the Xiao family stepped forward to study the inscriptions on the tablet closely, his brows tightly knitted as if deep in thought.

Suddenly, a gleam of understanding flashed in his eyes. "I understand now! These runes are a guide—a guide leading us to the true treasure."

"The true treasure? You mean the box wasn't the real treasure?" Lin Tian asked.

The elder nodded. "I'm afraid so. We were misled; this space is where the true treasure is concealed."

Right at that moment, the black-robed men suddenly rushed forward, attempting to seize the clues inscribed on the tablet.

Lin Tian and the Xiao family immediately stepped up to block them, and hostilities broke out once again.

During the skirmish, Lin Tian realized that the strength of the black-robed foes seemed to be suppressed by this realm, lacking its previous overwhelming might.

Working in unison, the group gradually gained the upper hand.

Realizing the situation was turning against them, the lead black-robed man abruptly pulled a black pill from his tunic and swallowed it.

His body instantly expanded, and his power surged dramatically, turning the previously dim environment into a turbulent abyss.

"None of you are getting the treasure! None of you!" the black-robed man roared, charging at the group like a monstrous beast.

Watching the frenzied adversary, Lin Tian knew better than to clash with him head-on.

While dodging the wild assaults, he observed the surrounding environment.

He noticed several strange grooves on the ground around the stone tablet, which seemed to share some connection with the runes carved upon it.

A sudden inspiration struck Lin Tian, and he decided to take a gamble. Dodging an attack, he sprinted to the tablet and, based on his own deduction, aligned certain runes with the grooves on the floor.

As he completed the sequence, beams of light ignited across the ground, converging into an intricate pattern.

The moment the pattern formed, the entire space began to violently shake.

The tremors knocked the berserk black-robed man flat to the ground, while the Xiao family members struggled to keep their footing.

Amidst the escalating tremors, a gateway materialized within the space. The door slowly swung open, radiating a formidable aura from within.

"Could the treasure be inside?" the elder of the Xiao family asked with excitement.

Lin Tian nodded. "It is very likely, but we must proceed with caution. Who knows what dangers await inside."

Both the Xiao family and the black-robed men walked through the threshold.

Inside lay a massive chamber, at the center of which rested a crystal coffin.

A figure lay within the crystal coffin, emanating a powerful and majestic presence.

Beside the coffin stood a small box, bathing the surroundings in a gentle radiance.

"Is this the true treasure?" Lin Tian stared at the box, his heart filled with doubt.

The elder of the Xiao family stepped forward, reaching out to open the box.

The exact moment his fingers brushed the surface of the box, the figure inside the crystal coffin suddenly opened its eyes.

"Who are you? Why have you trespassed into my domain?" The voice from the coffin was chilling, reminiscent of millennial frost.

The elder of the Xiao family hurriedly explained, "We came seeking the treasure to safeguard the peace of the world."

The figure in the crystal coffin sneered. "Safeguard the world's peace? What a laughable excuse. Did you truly believe such a treasure could be so easily claimed?"

With a flick of his hand, countless strands of sword Qi instantly materialized in the chamber, shooting toward the intruders.

Lin Tian and the others scrambled to dodge the barrage, joined reluctantly by the black-robed men.

The sword Qi fell like a dense rain, making evasion exceedingly difficult.

Lin Tian whirled his sword, deflecting the incoming blades, though a few still managed to graze his skin.

While dodging, the Xiao family elder shouted aloud, "Senior, we bear no malice! Yet if this treasure falls into the hands of evil men, it will bring catastrophe upon the world."

The figure within the coffin seemed to heed the elder's words, halting the onslaught.

"The wicked men you speak of... must be them, yes?"

The entity in the crystal coffin pointed toward the black-robed men, his tone carrying a chilling pierce that chilled everyone to the bone.

Lin Tian nodded. "Indeed. They have stopped at nothing to acquire the treasure, harming countless people along the way."

Upon hearing this, the leader of the black-robed faction retorted, "Hmph! Don't listen to their nonsense. We are the ones truly capable of using this treasure to reshape this rotting world!"

The entity in the coffin looked at the black-robed men, then shifted his gaze to the Xiao family, and finally spoke. "You all desire this treasure. Very well, I shall give you a single chance. Answer my question; if you answer correctly, the treasure is yours."

Everyone nodded in agreement. The voice from the crystal coffin asked, "Is the peace of this world maintained by might, or is it maintained by wisdom?"

The elder of the Xiao family pondered for a moment before replying, "I believe both are indispensable. Only by possessing greater strength can one resist the invasion of evil, and only by possessing wisdom can one wield that strength correctly to lead the world toward peace!"

The figure in the crystal coffin listened and nodded slightly.

"Your answer is not without merit. In truth, this treasure is not some formidable weapon, but rather an artifact that bestows wisdom. It allows one to see through all the worldly conflicts and find the true path to peace."